3D models may have started as a primarily artistic venture, but the truth is, this type of design is capable of improving a plethora of things — including our physical well being! Even something as enormous and often opaque as the healthcare industry is turning to 3D modeling for solutions.
Down to a Science
There’s a long history of practical applications of 3D modelling — surely we don’t even need to mention the giant portion of 3D work that comprises key parts of engineering and manufacturing workflows. Besides that, the biological sciences have taken advantage of the 3D computer-aided design to their great success. Looking at cells and molecules using 3D modeling has been an industry standard for awhile now, and 3D simulations of biological processes are already integrated into biology education worldwide.
Parts for Everyone!
It’s not all just pretty proteins, though: There’s another use for 3D blueprints here. Using additive manufacturing (aka 3D printing), healthcare service providers are making customizable, cost-efficient prosthetics a reality. Creating well-fitting sockets for prosthetics limbs used to be a very arduous process; with the speed and dexterity of 3D printing equipment, however, making individual sockets can now be as simple as tweaking a model blueprint’s measurements on the computer. And it’s not all just prosthetic limbs: take a look at this detailed list of what we can 3D print so far.
Tangible Anatomy
You can’t just fiddle around with live human body parts in the name of scientific understanding! While dissections are plenty of fun, accurate models are a little less… Formaldehyde-y. With the use of 3D printing technology, we can figure out how to improve the lives of patients without cutting anything open first. Replicas of organs, systems, and anatomical structures are now highly customizable. Seeing and interacting with these models makes planning surgery and educating the doctors of tomorrow much more accessible. It could mean accurate diagnoses and lives saved. On the more showy side of medical model usage is the idea of using them in demonstration: imagine your doctor approaching a family with a 3D-printed model. Wouldn’t it be great if he could show everyone what’s going on with the patient in a visual, clearly-understandable way?
Personal Medical Care
Providing medicine that is personalized doesn’t just mean that the nurse knows your name. Custom 3D modeling means fitting what your body needs to your body. That means that surgeons can lower the risk of complications and errors: it is now relatively simple to convert data from a CT scan into a 3D model that they can analyze in real-time. This has already been implemented in operations including in the spine, shoulder, hip, knee, jaw and even in the heart. It’s not just a solution to ailments, but a cost-effective tool for removing obstacles that stand in the way of diagnosis and medical response.
It’s clear by now that 3D technology will be integrated into all facets of human life, including medical care. Exciting to watch, isn’t it? And we haven’t even mentioned the fact that they’re 3D printing pharmaceuticals now, and even developing 3D virtual reality programs for patient comfort.
Want to stay up-to-date on all things 3D? Read this post and more like it on iMeshup’s blog!
